Influence and mechanism of N-(3-oxooxtanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (C8-oxo-HSL) on biofilm behaviors at early stage

N-acyl-homoserines quenching, enzymatic quenching of bacterial quorum sensing, has recently applied to mitigate biofilm in membrane bioreactor. However, the effect of AHLs on the behavior of biofilm formation is still sparse. In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm was formed on ultra-filtration membrane under a series of N-(3-oxooxtanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (C₈-oxo-HSL) concentrations. Diffusing C₈-oxo-HSL increased the growth rate of cells on biofilm where the concentration of C₈-oxo-HSL was over 10^-7 g/L. The C₈-oxo-HSL gradient had no observable influence on cell density and extracellular polymeric substances of biofilm with over 10^-7 g/L C₈-oxo-HSL. Surprisingly, 10^-11-10^-8 g/L of C₈-oxo-HSL had no effect on cell growth in liquid culture. The cell analysis demonstrated that the quorum sensing system might enhance the growth of neighboring cells in contact with surfaces into biofilm and may influence the structure and organization of biofilm.     

Conversion characteristics and mechanism analysis of gaseous dichloromethane degraded by a VUV light in different reaction media

The photodegradation of gaseous dichloromethane (DCM) by a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light in a spiral reactor was investigated with different reaction media and initial concentrations. Through the combination of direct photolysis, O₃ oxidation and HO. oxidation, DCM was ultimately mineralized into inorganic compounds (such as HCl, CO₂, H₂O, etc.) in the air with relative humidity (RH) of 75%-85%. During the photodegradation process, some small organic acids (including formic acid, acetic acid) were also detected and the intermediates were more soluble than DCM, providing a possibility for its combination with subsequent biodegradation. Based on the detected intermediates and the confirmed radicals, a photodegradation pathway of DCM by VUV was proposed. With RH 75%-80% air as the reaction medium, the DCM removal followed the second-order kinetic model at inlet concentration of 100-1000 mg/m³. Kinetic analysis showed that the reaction media affected the kinetic constants of DCM conversion by a large extent, and RH 80% air could cause a much lower half-life for its conversion. Such results supported the possibility that VUV photodegradation could be used not only for the mineralization of DCM but also as a pretreatment before biodegradation.     

Pollution level and human health risk assessment of some pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Nantong of Southeast China

Food consumption is one of the key exposure routes of humans to contaminants. This article evaluated the residue levels of 51 pesticides and 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in selected fish and food items which were commonly consumed in the Nantong area of Jiangsu Province, Southeast China. The 51 pesticides and 16 PCBs were analyzed by highly sensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The results showed that organochlorine pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and mirex and other pesticides including chlorpyrifos, pyrethroid pesticides, metolachlor, pyridaben and trifluralin were frequently detected in the samples, which was consistent with the accumulation level and characteristics of these toxic chemicals in human adipose tissue of people living in Nantong. Meanwhile, correlation of the residue level of toxic chemicals with their physical chemical properties and historic use pattern in Nantong area was observed. Combined with dietary survey results at the same sampling locations, human health risk assessment of ingestion through the dietary route was performed. The results suggested that the non-cancer risks of the chemicals investigated can be considered negligible in the Nantong area, however, the cancer risks from lifetime dietary exposure to DDTs and HCB have exceeded the acceptable levels.     

Nitrous oxide emission and reduction in a laboratory-incubated paddy soil response to pretreatment of water regime

IntroductionNitrousoxide (N2 O)isagreenhousegas.IncreasingatmosphericN2 Oconcentrationmayalsobedetrimentaltothestratosphericozonelayer(Crutzen ,1981) .AgriculturalsoilisamajorsourceofN2 O .MostN2 Ooriginateswithsoilprocesses,asanintermediateproductfrommic…     

Fragmentation effects on an endangered species across a gradient from the interior to edge of its range

Understanding how habitat fragmentation affects individual species is complicated by challenges associated with quantifying species-specific habitat and spatial variability in fragmentation effects within a species’ range. We aggregated a 29-year breeding survey data set for the endangered marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) from >42,000 forest sites throughout the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, and northern California) of the United States. We built a species distribution model (SDM) in which occupied sites were linked with Landsat imagery to quantify murrelet-specific habitat and then used occupancy models to test the hypotheses that fragmentation negatively affects murrelet breeding distribution and that these effects are amplified with distance from the marine foraging habitat toward the edge of the species’ nesting range. Murrelet habitat declined in the Pacific Northwest by 20% since 1988, whereas the proportion of habitat comprising edges increased by 17%, indicating increased fragmentation. Furthermore, fragmentation of murrelet habitat at landscape scales (within 2 km of survey stations) negatively affected occupancy of potential breeding sites, and these effects were amplified near the range edge. On the coast, the odds of occupancy decreased by 37% (95% confidence interval [CI] –54 to 12) for each 10% increase in edge habitat (i.e., fragmentation), but at the range edge (88 km inland) these odds decreased by 99% (95% CI 98 to 99). Conversely, odds of murrelet occupancy increased by 31% (95% CI 14 to 52) for each 10% increase in local edge habitat (within 100 m of survey stations). Avoidance of fragmentation at broad scales but use of locally fragmented habitat with reduced quality may help explain the lack of murrelet population recovery. Further, our results emphasize that fragmentation effects can be nuanced, scale dependent, and geographically variable. Awareness of these nuances is critical for developing landscape-level conservation strategies for species experiencing broad-scale habitat loss and fragmentation.     

Target the neglected VOCs emission from iron and steel industry in China for air quality improvement

● Haze formation in China is highly correlated with iron and steel industry. ● VOCs generated in sinter process were neglected under current emission standard. ● Co-elimination removal of sinter flue gas complex pollutants are timely needed. Recent years have witnessed significant improvement in China’s air quality. Strict environmental protection measures have led to significant decreases in sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and particulate matter (PM) emissions since 2013. But there is no denying that the air quality in 135 cities is inferior to reaching the Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095–2012) in 2020. In terms of temporal, geographic, and historical aspects, we have analyzed the potential connections between China’s air quality and the iron and steel industry. The non-target volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from iron and steel industry, especially from the iron ore sinter process, may be an underappreciated index imposing a negative effect on the surrounding areas of China. Therefore, we appeal the authorities to pay more attention on VOCs emission from the iron and steel industry and establish new environmental standards. And different iron steel flue gas pollutants will be eliminated concurrently with the promotion and application of new technology.     

贵州万山汞矿区汞的环境污染及对生态系统的影响

通过对贵州万山汞矿地区环境样品(水、土壤、植物、农作物和动物)的系统研究,发现该地区的环境汞污染以土壤、大气污染为主,水体基本处于正常范围.土壤汞含量为24.31～347.52mg·kg^-1,比全国土壤平均值高出2～3个数量级;水中汞含量除了冶炼厂荷花池中含量较高外,其它水体为0.10～0.68ng·mL^-1.由于矿山长期的开采和冶炼,整个环境的汞污染严重,当地的植被、农作物、动物中存在明显的汞蓄积,各种植物不同部位的汞含量为0.47～331.4mg·kg^-1;苔藓可以高度富集汞.     

江苏沿海滩涂土壤重金属风险分析

以江苏沿海滩涂作为研究区,通过采样检测,结合统计分析方法和潜在生态风险指数,研究不同滩涂围垦类型下土壤/沉积物重金属总量、有效态含量及其潜在生态风险。研究结果表明：滩涂土壤重金属总体呈轻度污染,高值区位于养殖区和行道树林;不同土地利用类型下的重金属以中等偏下变异为主,空间异质性弱;重金属有效态与总量呈显著正相关;潜在生态风险主要由Cd、Hg贡献,64.78%和35.21%的土壤点位呈现Cd强度和中度生态风险,养殖池塘和农田重金属潜在生态风险最严重。     

赤红壤、砖红壤矿物油污染效应研究

本研究采用盆栽试验法,研究了赤红壤、砖红壤中矿物油对水稻、花生的生理生态影响和矿物油在土壤中的净化。研究结果表明:矿物油对第一季水稻生长发育影响不大,对第二季则表现出明显的抑制作用,低浓度矿物油对花生生长发育有促进作用,高浓度则对其起抑制作用;收获后,水稻各部分及水稻土,花生根及花生土油残留均与投油量呈极显著的直线正相关关系,油在作物根部最易积累;种植两季水稻后,油在赤红壤、砖红壤中的净化率分别为80％以上和50％左右。最后,根据上述研究确定了赤红壤、砖红壤的矿物油临界含量分别为270.90mg/kg和318.92mg/kg。      

稀土元素对小球藻叶绿素（a）含量及其亚显微结构的影响

为了解稀土元素的水生生物效应,通过小球藻的培养试验,研究了若干轻稀土元素镧（La）、铈（Ce）、镨（Pr）、钕（Nd）及其混合物对椭圆小球藻（chlorellaellipsoidea）的生理影响。结果显示,低浓度（2～10mg/L）稀土元素在短期内（1～3d）对小球藻叶绿素（a）含量的增长有轻微的刺激促进作用,但随着处理浓度的提高和时间的延长,小球藻叶绿　素（a）含量的增长明显受到抑制,当稀土浓度≥100gm/L时,其叶绿素（a）含量基本处于负增长,小球藻生长停滞,趋于死亡,此时其细胞亚显微结构遭到破坏,尤以叶绿体结构的变化最为明显。4种稀士元素及其混合物对小球藻的毒性尚属中等。